UPDATE: It’s the Instax Mini Tsum Tsum (thanks again Mistral) :) – See Fujifilm China
Instax sells like hot cakes. Fujifilm simply can’t keep up with the demand, as they also said in this dedicated Fujifilm reportage about how the company survived the arrival of digital photography. At a certain point of the reportage, they will bring you inside the Instax factory, and a Fujifilm worker says that the factory can’t keep up with the Instax demand.
In fact, just take a look at the AmazonUS OVERALL camera and photo ranking… it’s years now, that Instax products are selling better than any other camera product (action cameras included).
My Fujifilm X-T1 has the same issues, bending door and rubber coming off. I already fixed it once, and paid for nothing, since the problem persisted. Now that this story is out, I will contact my local Fujifilm support and ask if they can perform the fix again, with the improved material and for free, like they did for All.
In case you have the same issue, contact your local Fujifilm support and direct them to this article on FujiRumors, to make sure you will get a definitive, durable and possibly free fix for you X-T1.
It was March 10th, 2017 when I participated a discussion here on Fujirumors about the “Replacing the X-T1 Rubber Grip” issue.
I had my bending door replaced the first time in September 9th 2015.
I spent 15€ for shipment but I had it replaced for free because my camera was still under warranty (I bought it in March 2014). At that moment X-T2 wasn’t on the market and when the camera came back I knew that the grip was just the same as it was out of the box. No surprises there.
As the grip was the same, the next summer I had the same problem as the summer before: with the heat, the USB door bended again. It was making me mad. I tried everything, from the duct tape to the reverse bending after heating up the rubber with a hairdryer. Nothing worked.
This time the problem affected all the grip and it was starting to unstuck in several points: the from the handling, from the MCS selector in the front and near the back/disp button.
I was really upset so I decided to send the camera back in after the summer.
It was February 8th 2017 when I sent my camera to the repair center.
This time the camera’s warranty was expired so I was expecting to pay from 50€ to 150€ for the service, as it was told me by the local seller I asked to.
The Fujifilm X-E3 started shipping yesterday, and today the first stores already have it officially in stock.
In fact, you can now find various combos, from body only to kit lens, available at AmazonUS via third party sellers like Cardinal Camera and Video Center, which is an authorized Fujifilm dealer.
If you buy at Amazon marketplace, I STRONGLY recommend to buy only those X-E3 cameras, that are offered by authorized Fujifilm dealers. To see the full list of official Fuji dealers, check out the updated list of authorized sellers here.
READER QUESTIONS: I was asked via email and facebook, which is the best lens to combine with the Fujiflm X-E3, and IMHO, the X-E3 is made to be paired with either the XF27mm or XF18mm, to give it the most compact size possible… even more compact than the X100F!
Matthew here:
1) It’s shipping to dealers in Canada on Monday. Stores should have it available by Friday or Monday at the latest.
2) It looks and feels smaller than any photo I’ve seen of it, including this phone shot I took.
3) It is ***THE*** street photography camera to beat now as far as I’m concerned. Totally discreet, quiet (or silent with the ES of course).
4) Some of the features will involve a small learning curve, but they are really impressive and well thought out.
5) Any existing thumb-up grip will probably block access to a couple of buttons, but the grip is comfortable without one.
6) It’s a matter of taste, but I think the black one is a lot better looking than the silver.
7) Haven’t seen the IQ on the computer yet but it looks great in the screen.
Bill here:
Just played around a bit with the X-E3 at the local store. I didn’t get to try a lot of things but I looked it over, looked through the menus, took a few shots (no card), and just tried to get a feel for how it feels in the hand. Unfortunately it had the 18-55 kit lens on it which is a fine lens but didn’t really let me get a sense of how compact the camera will be to carry around with one of Fuji’s wonderful f2 lenses, or maybe the 18 or 27. The body felt comfortable to hold, but I wish they had a different lens on it.
Two small quibbles. Although the build quality seemed pretty good overall, the speed and EV dials felt rather cheaply made, rather rough and not cleanly machined like on the X100F. For what it’s worth, I later looked at the XT-20 and it seemed to have the same kind of dials. Both of those cameras were the silver ones. I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with them. I’m probably just used to the attention paid to final finishing on the cameras made in Japan. The other thing was that the focus was rather sluggish with the kit lens. It didn’t hunt and found focus quickly once it started the process, but there was a definite delay between the time I half pressed the shutter, or touched the screen, and the time it began focusing. I’m going to assume that the focus will be much faster with the newer lenses. In any case, I’ll find out on Thursday.
First Impressions: Fujifilm X-E3 (Sample Images Included) at thephoblographer
Fujifilm X-E3 Sample Images (Jpeg and RAW) at photographyblog
So, Jordan gave FujiRumors a shout-out on the latest TheCameraStoreTV live stream, saying he thinks the X-E3 is the sexiest camera Fujifilm has ever designed and that I can publish this statement on Fujirumors. Well Jordan, just done :)
TCSTV starts talking about the X-E3 at minute 26:50 of this video.
TheCameraStoreTV dedicated their latest live stream mainly to the topic “firmware updates”, and they mention also the firmware updates for Fujifilm cameras. They praise Fujifilm’s Kaizen philosophy, but Jordan also adds a consideration/specualtion, which I would like to highlight today here on FujiRumors.
Jordan was talking about the X-Pro2 (min. 9:00), and about how, at launch, it had no 4K video, despite being capable of it*, simply because Fujifilm did not consider video shooters to be the target of the X-Pro2. They also mention the lack of tethering, which will also come to the X-Pro2 with firmware ver. 4.00 in December 2017.
The question now is: why didn’t Fujifilm give us tethering and 4K on the X-Pro2 right at its launch?
At min 09:57 Jordan speculates:
My chief concern is that I would hate see companies hold back features at launch, so that they can make a big splash when they announce a big firmware update later, and give that camera a second life of marketing
So is Fujifilm doing this on purpose? Jordan and Chris clearly say “we don’t know“. It’s just a speculation they make.
X-T20 Firmware… Why not on Par with X-E3?
And speaking of firmware updates…
As you know, in November, the X-T20 will get a nice little firmware update, which will allow you to use the touch screen also in EVF mode.
But I wonder, why won’t the X-T20 get also the improved AF-system, the RGB color histogram and the live view highlight alert already present in the Fujifilm X-E3?
Maybe Fujifilm just wants to “help” X-E3 sales at its launch by giving it, for now, a little “firmware advantage” over the X-T20. And who knows, maybe, sometimes in 2018, when X-E3 sales slow down, they can give to the X-T20 a second marketing life with a Kaizen firmware update that brings it on the par with the X-E3.
Maybe it’s not so easy for Fujifilm to pack the X-E3 firmware into the X-T20 and Fujifilm has to do some extra coding work… hence, they need more time.
Maybe it’s not possible… for whatever reason
Anyway, I would like every Fujifilm camera to be always packed with everything possible as soon as possible. No camera should be “castrated” via software for market (or marketing) reasons. So if possible, whenever it’s ready (if that’s even possible), please Fujifilm, bring the X-T20 on par with the X-E3.
*Reminders:
Fuji Guy Billy said here that “the X-Pro2 is over-engineered and a lot of potential is not harnessed yet”, and he teased new firmware updates
Vietnam Travel — Hanoi / Sapa / Halong (filmed with X-T2) at zackhedelic
My Travel X Switch Story & More
Many years ago, I was hiking for a few days, alone, from Albania to Montenegro, crossing the spectacular, wild and remote Albanian Alps starting from the fascinating Koman lake, crossing the rural (and electricity-less) villages of Valbona and Theth and then all the way to Gusinje.
I warmly recommend you this trip. Albania is probably the most underestimated travel destination ever in Europe (and one of the cheapest, too). Great sea in the South, majestic mountains in the North. Go there, you will love it.
Anyway…. it was a hard walk. I slept in my tent on high passes, walked up to 9 hours a day, ate food some kind shepherds gave me… and along all the way I carried my heavy Canon gear with me.
One day I woke up on a mountain peak between Valbona and Theth. I left my tent to admire the sunrise in absolute peace. And thinking at all the way I still had to go with all the Canon gear, I took a decision: from now on I’ll travel light!
When I arrived back home I started looking at mirrorless cameras and bought the [shoplink 44354 ebay]Olympus Pen E-P1[/shoplink]… the first of a long series of mirrorless cameras, until I finally stumbled on the Fujifilm X-series.
And that was it… that was love… a love I needed to share via FujiRumors.com :)
So yes, for me, it was all about size/weight, when I decided to switch to mirrorless…. and Fujifilm’s APS-C line just hit the sweet spot between image quality, size, ergonomics and aesthetics.
Remembering all this, I’d like to dedicate a special roundup to those of you guys, who also chose Fujifilm as their favorite travel gear. I hope you will enjoy the stories and the images down below as much as I did :)
25 Countries in 18 Months with the at 5050travelog
A photographic trip through Italy at alessandromichelazzi.com Part 1 and Part 2
Is X-Pro 2 the perfect camera for travel photography? X-pro 2 complete field test in Sri Lanka in French at cyrilbezzina (translation)
Today’s roundup is dedicated to Fujifilm’s all time best seller, the Fujifilm X-T2. And it seems that it is making many people happy, as you can see in the links below.
And to those, who ask me if they should wait for the X-T2 successor, maybe the rumored X-T2S or even the Fujifilm X-T3, I can only say that once a replacement will be out, the X-T2 won’t become a worse camera. Actually probably even better, thanks to Fuji’s Kaizen support. So why wait… get it, and enjoy it :)
Cover Stories
Bird photography with the Nikon D500 + Tamron 150-600G2 and comparing it to my X-T2 + 100-400/1.4x tc at robertdoeleman
An Ode to FujiFilm, Wildlife Photography Heaven, Fujifilm X-T2 Auto focus at peterdelaneyphotography
Challenging Lighting Situation. Sony A9, 70-200 f4 & Fujifilm X-T2, 50-140 f2.8 at Denae & Andrew Youtube
& More X-T2
REVIEW: Lok and Warren try the new Fujifilm X-T2 Firmware 2.1 for Video Shooters at Photogearnews youtube
Photos taken with Fujifilm X-T2 and XF23/1,4 at mgrochocki
Fujirumors is not only a great source for Fujifilm to get feedback about their products and early feedback thanks to rumors, but also a place that keeps the whole community excited and informed. And none of this would be possible without everybody, who helped me with the rumors and the news. Huge thanks to all of you for guiding me safly through the stormy Fuji waters.
The Facts
670 blog post published so far in 2017
84 rumors shared in 2017
14 rumors still to be verified (and 1 out of ranking)
65 correct rumors out of 69 verifiable rumors
4 wrong rumors out of 69 verifiable rumors
94% correct rumors
What To Expect From Fujifilm…
… and 2 Notes
The Ultimate Fuji X: I know that this camera was in Fuji’s plans, and I know they scrapped it in favor or the Fujifilm X-T2S (which is basically an “ultimate X light”). However, I decided to already move the ultimate X rumors in the wrong rumor section, because I need a public statement of Fujifilm that such plans existed to share it as a correct rumor (as it happened with the X-Pro1s)… and also because otherwise the wrong rumor section would have been empty :)
Fujinon 33mmF1: In January, I reported that the 33/1 has been scrapped. As a consequence, I launched a huge lens request poll, where the 33/1 became the most voted prime lens by the FR-community. The results might have convinced Fujifilm to think about it again, as a rumor recently suggested. Hence you will find 2 rumors down below… the one that says the 33/1 has been canceled, and the one that says there is a little bit hope again.
↓ PRESS RELEASE / FIRST LOOKS↓ LIVE BLOGGING
Refresh This Page for the Latest Updates
Last Update 05:01 PM EST – Added a very brief video that shows the new bluetooth synching. Go to Video section below
03:33 PM EST: Added Fujikina Live Report at the Japanese site dc.watch in “Fujikina Live Reports” Section (images of GF 250mmF4)
12:29 PM EST: Added – New AF system explained by Rico
Fujikina Live Report at the Japanese site dc.watch (translation), also with hands on images on the latest Fuji gear, for example the GF250/4 here
VIDEOS
Fujifilm is uploading MASSIVE promo videos! I will share only a selection here. The focus in the video section is on third party first looks and reviews. Go to Fujifilm Global Youtube, fujifilm-xand Fuji Guys Youtube to see all promo videos.
Fujifilm X E3 Synchronisation de l’appareil at FUJIFILM France Youtube.
This very brief video ad shows the new bluetooth synching, with brief shots of the phone app (0:04), let’s hope it improves usability! (thanks John)
I really get a terrific amount of emails with requests to be featured on FujiRumors and I want to make everybody happy.
So I have decided to share more miXed zones than we were used in the past. This will allow me to keep roundups smaller (less links) and give you guys an overall better reading experience (I hope).
Also, I’m trying to organize miXed zones in a way that it makes sense, which is why lenses, GFX, X100F and occasionally also RAW converters, accessories and more get a a dedicated roundup.
The new way I orgnize miXed zones also means it might occasionally take a little bit longer before your blog will be featured on FR, but on the other hand, having them better organized will allow you to get a better visibility.
It is a huge amount of work for me, but I’m happy to invest my time to feature you all in the best way possible and to improve your reading experience.
As usual, I’m thankful for feedback… I really try to do my best, and in case you have suggestions, they are always welcome.
